Improved book-holder



PATENT OFFICE,

DAVID I. STAGG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVED BOOK-HOLDER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,924, dated June 26, 1866.

enable those skilled in the artto make and usethe same, reference being` had to the accom panying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan or top view of my invention Fig. 2, a side sectional view of the same, taken in the line .fr x, Fig. 1. l

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to a new and improved device for holding books in an open state, so that the same may be read without the necessity oi' holding them open with the hands.

The object of the invention is to obtain a simple, neat, and cheap device for the purpose speciiied, and one which may be adjusted to suit books otditferent thicknesses, or those having a greater or less num ber of leaves, and to hold the book open equally well with a greater or less number of leaves at either side.

A represents `a platform or base, the front edge of which is beveled or inclined, and has acleat or strip, B, attached extendingits whole length. This strip B has an oblong narrow slot, c, made longitudinally through it, or the upper surface of said strip may be notched or hollowed out and have a cleat secured to or nailed to its ends, and in this slotatwo arms, O O, are secured by pivots or screws b b. These arms O are of such dimensions that they may be shoved in the slot a. when not required for use, so as to be entirely out of the way, and the'outer ends of the arms O are slotted longitudinally and vertically, as shown at b', to receive fingers D, which are pivoted in the slots by pins c, passing horizontally through the arms, the 1in gers being capable of being turn ed down Within the slots in the armsor raised up out of them.`

The cleat or strip B serves as a support for the lower edge of the book, the back of the book being supported bya frame composed of two inclined bars, E E, attached one to each side of the front part oi' the platform or base andcross-bars F, which connect theibars E E, the bars E E lbeing braced from the rear end of the platform or base by inclined bars G.

In adjustinga oook to the holder the former is opened and placed against theinclined frame with its lower edge resting on the cleat or strip B. The arms O O are drawn out and the tingers D turned up to hold the leaves back at each side of the book and to hold the book against the support. The arms O may be brought more or less outward to suit the thickness ot' the book or the number of leaves at a stand or support, it' desired, and the frame of the device made or arranged so as to fold down out of the way when not required for use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The arms O O, secured in the cleat or strip- B by screws b b, and provided with pivoted fingers D at their outer ends, in connection with the'inclined frame and base, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose specitied.

DAVID I. STAGG.

Witnesses WM. F. MCNAMAEA, ALEX. F. ROBERTS. 

